Over the years, I’ve renewed my Saudi Driving Licence several times in Saudi Arabia. However, this time it was easier. First, I paid at the bank, then renewed it in Abshir before collecting the new driving license.
That’s it.
Nothing difficult except – we are in Saudi Arabia. I still had a few hoops to jump though before I finally received my new driving license.
So, What is a Pain Free Way To Renew Your Saudi Driving Licence?
Here are the four important steps. (Click on the link to jump to section and the arrow to jump back)
- Pay the Online Bank Fee (SR80 – SR400)
- Get a Medical Test (SR100 -SR300)
- Login to Abshir – Renew The Licence
- Collect the New Licence by Post (SR100)
- Related Questions
In this article, I break down the four steps for you, adding observations, tips and tricks to help you do it faster, cheaper and pain-free.
So, here we go!
Abshir – SMS Reminders
A month before your current valid Saudi driving licence expires, you will start getting SMS messages (in Arabic) from Abshir telling you that your Saudi driving license is about to expire and the date it will.
If you do nothing, Abshir continues sending you more SMS prompts encouraging you to act.
TIP 1: Pay and apply for the Saudi driving licence one to two weeks before you need it to avoid an expensive fine of SR300-SR500.
Step 1 – Pay the Online Bank Fee (SR80 – SR400)
Your first step is to pay the driving licence renewal fee. You should log in to your online bank account with a one-time passcode.
Then, click through to:
- Bills & Payments
- Government Payment
- Driving Licence
- Renew Licence
- Enter Iqama Number
- Enter Licence Type (Private, Temporary, Motorcycle, Truck, etc)
- Pay the Fee: 2 years (SR80), 5 years (SR200), 10 years (SR400)
TIP 2: Make sure you have the following three things before you start the application process:
Less than one-year remaining validity on your current driving licence
A valid Medical Test Report
No Unpaid traffic violations
Pay and apply for the Saudi driving licence one to two weeks before you need it to avoid an expensive fine of SR300-SR500.
Step 2 – Get a Medical Test (SR100 – SR300)
Your second step is to do a medical check. (BTW, you can do this at ANY time.)
First, get a stamped Saudi traffic office medical form and a passport-sized photo (SR5-SR10 for four) of you. Add one of them to the form.
You will need blood and eyesight tests ONLY. Here are the steps:
- Go to a Hospital or Clinic
- Register
- Get a Blood Test
- Get an Eyesight Test
- Sign and Stamp the Medical Form
Present the Saudi traffic medical form and a passport-size photograph in colour to a hospital or clinic that offers health certification for the Saudi driving licence.
The medical forms are freely available in any driving school and at clinics and hospitals.
TIP 3: Be sure you have the correct glasses prescription to avoid the doctor failing your eyes during the eye examination.
To learn all the steps about how sons and daughters can get their first Saudi driving licences click on the following insidesaudi link, How To Get The First Saudi Driving License for Teenage Sons or Daughters
The Blood Test
At the medical centre and after you register, a friendly technician will test your blood to know your blood group and separately, a doctor will test your eyesight (each eye) with or without glasses.
Blood test results are available immediately within seconds. The technician pricks your finger, draws a drop of blood, applies it to a glass slide in three separate dots and adds a solution to test for A, B or O types.
The technician will know your blood type depending on which drop of blood coagulates in clusters on the slide.
The Eye (s) Test
Then, you wait patiently to see a doctor to certify that your eyes are good and that you are fit and healthy enough to operate a motor vehicle.
You will sit down a few metres away from an eye test chart, cover each eye and read large and small letters or symbols in rows. Then, you will read numbers in a colour chart book to determine if you are colour-blind.
The doctor will pass or fail your eyes or may recommend better glasses. Finally, the doctor will sign and stamp your medical form.
Complete the Registration
Take the medical form to reception. Here, they will enter your medical results into their system, certify and return the form to you!
If the medical centre automatically connects to the Saudi government traffic police system, your medical test results are automatically available on Abshir within a few hours.
Prices for medical tests vary. I found one expensive hospital charging SR235 + VAT, another clinic SR170 + VAT and the cheapest Asian clinic SR80 + VAT.
TIP 4: Check you have the correct glasses prescription to avoid the doctor failing your eyes during the eye examination.
Step 3 – Login to Abshir – Renew The Licence
The third step in the process is to renew your driving licence in your Abshir account. Once complete, you will receive a confirmation from Abshir. (in Arabic)
Here are the steps:
- Login to Abshir
- Choose Renew Driving Licence
- Enter Licence Type & Duration
- Enter Delivery Address, Phone etc
- Choose Courier: SMSA Delivery or Saudi Post ONLY
- Enter Credit Card Details
- Pay (SR95 plus VAT)
- Check SMS Payment Message
Previously, drivers had to attend the driving school, provide documents, and print and collect the renewed driving licence on-site.
However today, for a fee of SR95 plus VAT, they send it to you by courier ONLY.
You ONLY have two choices of courier: SMSA Delivery or Saudi Post. You cannot choose an alternative courier and can no longer collect it yourself.
TIP 5: The SMSA courier will deliver your renewed driving licence to your home or work address. If you use the Saudi Post, you have to collect it from your local post office. Both charge SR95 plus VAT to deliver your new licence.
Step 4 – Collect Your New Licence By Post (SR95 plus VAT)
The final step is to wait for the delivery company (SMSA or Saudi Post) to bring you the new licence.
Here are the steps:
- Get SMS confirmation of payment
- Wait 3 – 5 days
- Get another SMS indicating delivery soon
- Get a WhatsApp message asking for the delivery location
- Get an SMS message with a three-digit courier code (i.e .002)
- A courier driver will call asking for the Iqama number and courier code
- The courier driver will hand you an envelope with the new licence.
After you pay for the courier delivery in Abshir, you will receive an SMS message telling you they will deliver your package in 3-5 days.
Two days before delivery, you will receive another SMS stating delivery is imminent.
Then, you will get a WhatsApp message asking you to enter your location. After three to five days, the SMSA courier will hand deliver your new licence and ask you for the item code before giving you the package.
TIP 6: Anyone in the family or at work can accept delivery on your behalf. You should tell the courier driver your iqama ID number and three-digit courier code sent in the SMS message. (i.e. 002)
Related Questions
1.What is the total cost of getting a renewed Saudi driving licence?
Driving license renewal fee is 2 years (SR80), 5 years (SR200), 10 years (SR400), plus Medical Test (SR100 – SR300) and courier delivery (SR95 plus VAT). Total: SR300 (cheapest) – SR 800 (most expensive)
2. How long does it take to renew a Saudi driving licence?
The time to renew your Saudi driving licence depends on how efficiently you complete the steps:
- Medical Test: Typically completed within a day. Results are entered into the system within a few hours if the clinic is connected to the government traffic system.
- Payment and Abshir Process: Takes around 15-30 minutes if you have all required documents and details ready.
- Delivery: After renewing the licence on Abshir, delivery usually takes 3-5 days.
TIP 7: Start the renewal process at least one to two weeks before your licence expires to ensure timely delivery and avoid fines.
3. Can you renew your Saudi driving licence without a medical test?
No, a medical test is mandatory for renewing your Saudi driving licence. You need to present a valid medical report, including blood group and eyesight test results, before starting the renewal process.
TIP 8: Complete the medical test in advance at a clinic or hospital connected to the Saudi traffic system for quicker processing on Abshir.